- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
You're all gonna hate me...
But drop this whole emo attitude. I'm going to give you a list of reasons as to why you shouldn't be so sincerely upset about this, and you can agree or not. Just realize that I'm trying to give you a counter view, since all we get around here is our own view of the situation.
1. Bungie has little affiliation with Halo PC. It's all in Gearbox's hands. Gearbox ported it, so nag them about the netcode and the poor shaders. Nag them about the outrageous system requirements for a 5 year old game. Nag them about multiplayer because they probably coded it, they probably made the dedicated server program, etc. Bungie gave them Halo for XBox and told them to port and make online multiplayer. Gearbox tells you to go to Bungie because they're too lazy and don't care. They didn't even make the game, they just ported it, so they have very little concern, and since Bungie didn't port it, they don't have much affiliation with it besides creating Halo for XBox.
2. The game is three years old, after all. Most companies don't release updates past a year, and since this is a port that happened 2 years after the original...well, it's surprising we got updates as late as we did that actually fixed some stuff.
3. How they treat their loyal fans? When you've got a problem with Halo PC, you go to Gearbox. They basically made it. It's them that have abused their customers. Bungie - how have they treated their fans? When their fans asked for changes in Halo 2, they delivered what the fans wanted. They listened to their fans the second time around when they knew what they wanted. True, this hasn't been so for Halo PC, but Halo PC isn't in their jurisdiction, so you can't hold them accountable.
Bungie didn't port Halo. They didn't -blam!- up the netcode and poorly optimize the game engine - Gearbox did. I suppose you're suggesting Bungie waltz over to Gearbox, demand the game files, and try and go back and fix something they never created? Pff, you think that's how companies function? No, companies are responsible for their mistakes - they're supposed to fix their own.
Gearbox most likely has some ownership of Halo PC. It may be that Bungie cannot release a patch under an agreement with them - that Gearbox must do it. Whatever the case, I don't think you can point the finger at Bungie. Besides, they've said that this forum has no real connection with the company, besides maybe Frankie who works on Halo 2 and the up-and-coming games.
Now, I'll get flamed, and people will tell me that it does lay in Bungie's hands. Well, see for yourselves. Gearbox calls Halo PC one of "their" games [I believe that porting companies gain certain ownership rights over the games they port, and many rights are transferred from developer to porter]. In addition, the 'official' website is run by Microsoft Game Studios. Yes, Microsoft owns Bungie, but Bungie is a seperate entity.
You want to hound someone for patches and improvements? Gearbox and M$ Game Studios are where your protests belong.
[Edited on 11/12/2005]